Masterson Nominees

[forty_three]

Andrew Hammond
Devan Dubnyk
Kris Letang


Soooo, a goalie who finally got traded to a good team, another goalie who no one heard of but had a good run and a guy who came back after a stroke. Two of those things are not like the other one.

No Marc Staal, who nearly lost an eye and came back. No Nick Foligno, who had a career year/breakout season after nearly losing a newborn baby. No Jaromir Jagr who is STILL PLAYING HOCKEY at age 43. No Pekke Rinne who came back after a blood clot in his leg to carry a team to the playoffs.

No, a goalie who likes hamburgers and another one who is finally just playing on a good team.

:p

Going to guess this is Letang's...

 

[jstewismybastardson]

no Scott Darling either

 

[forty_three]

no Scott Darling either

Well, that's a story I didn't know. Thanks.



And before I get flack about Hamburglar, I know he almost quit hockey twice. Once after getting cut in Junior A and once after getting traded in the E.

And Dubnyk played goal for Edmonton and didn't quit hockey either.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

not sure if it ever got posted during game 6 of the hawks preds series but when Darling got "lit" (no pun intended) up ... Scott Darlings sister was taking it on twitter from the usual horrible scum ... saying things like "your brother needs a longer stay in rehab" ... crap stuff

 

[dash]

Kris Russell was the Flames nominee, league leader in shot blocks, stepped up big time when Giordano got hurt and was a big reason why they made the playoffs, not to say he should be a finalist, but for a guy who was acquired by the Flames for a 5th round pick, it's a nice story.

 

[DragonfromTO]

Well, that's a story I didn't know. Thanks.



And before I get flack about Hamburglar, I know he almost quit hockey twice. Once after getting cut in Junior A and once after getting traded in the E.

And Dubnyk played goal for Edmonton and didn't quit hockey either.

I almost quit hockey a couple of times. I've never had a stroke though, so I'm not sure I can say for sure which is a bigger deal.

 

[pixburgher66]

I don't fully understand these nominees. First off, we have two guys who only played half the year. I suppose that's not really a qualification, but it's odd. I guess I sort of associate the award with overcoming extreme emotional battles or physical ailment...not being cut like a lot of athlete's have.

 

[Comeds]

Andre Markov played all 82 games including a couple with a cold and he is not one of the finalists. WTF?

 

[dash]

Mark Arcobello played for four teams this season (Oilers, Predators, Penguins, and Coyotes) and scored 17 goals, that's pretty darn good for a guy who doesn't seem wanted by anybody.

 

[forty_three]

Also, I finished a hockey practice with two broken ribs this season AND I returned 3 weeks later and practiced again. And my team was undefeated while I coached with broken ribs. Do you know how hard it is to yell for line changes when you can't breathe?



Snarkiness aside, I think it's meant for guys who had life changing situations to fight through and stayed focused and dedicated to the game.

Stroke, Nearly losing an eye, blood clots, almost losing a baby daughter the moment she's born, overcoming an addiction... All somewhat more impressive to overcome than getting cut when you are 16.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

I really dislike this award sometimes. Almost seems if they should just re-name it to "Breakout/Comeback Player of the Year".

 

[Puck082]

I really dislike this award sometimes. Almost seems if they should just re-name it to "Breakout/Comeback Player of the Year".

or rename it the "Embattled Player who just happened to have good Stats" award.

 

[pixburgher66]

I really dislike this award sometimes. Almost seems if they should just re-name it to "Breakout/Comeback Player of the Year".

A lot of other leagues have a "comeback" award, I think. Well...maybe that's just baseball. That said, they try to catch a lot of stories with the award, but as I see it, I don't see either of the goalies winning. The award is based loosely on play and more solidly on circumstance, at least that's how I've always interpreted it. Look at the past three winners! Dominic Moore: left the game to take care of his dying wife, returned to be a productive player; Josh Harding: MS, returned to play while still fighting and even started some playoff games; Max Pacioretty, takes the nasty hit is out a season with fx vertabrae, returns and is an elite player. The list goes on and on with some really great stories of overcoming the odds. Just some weird choices.

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

What is this Masterson award everyone is talking about?

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

A lot of other leagues have a "comeback" award, I think. Well...maybe that's just baseball. That said, they try to catch a lot of stories with the award, but as I see it, I don't see either of the goalies winning. The award is based loosely on play and more solidly on circumstance, at least that's how I've always interpreted it. Look at the past three winners! Dominic Moore: left the game to take care of his dying wife, returned to be a productive player; Josh Harding: MS, returned to play while still fighting and even started some playoff games; Max Pacioretty, takes the nasty hit is out a season with fx vertabrae, returns and is an elite player. The list goes on and on with some really great stories of overcoming the odds. Just some weird choices.

In this case, they should just give it to whatever player leaves the Oilers/Leafs every season for escaping that kind of terrible suffering.

So, this year Dubnyk gets it.

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

Also, I finished a hockey practice with two broken ribs this season AND I returned 3 weeks later and practiced again. And my team was undefeated while I coached with broken ribs. Do you know how hard it is to yell for line changes when you can't breathe?



Snarkiness aside, I think it's meant for guys who had life changing situations to fight through and stayed focused and dedicated to the game.

Stroke, Nearly losing an eye, blood clots, almost losing a baby daughter the moment she's born, overcoming an addiction... All somewhat more impressive to overcome than getting cut when you are 16.

They've already done that one, gotta find something new. Well, sort of. I think it was a son. And he actually died.

(That was Jose Theodore, BTW, in case anyone didn't remember).

 

[forty_three]

A lot of other leagues have a "comeback" award, I think. Well...maybe that's just baseball. That said, they try to catch a lot of stories with the award, but as I see it, I don't see either of the goalies winning. The award is based loosely on play and more solidly on circumstance, at least that's how I've always interpreted it. Look at the past three winners! Dominic Moore: left the game to take care of his dying wife, returned to be a productive player; Josh Harding: MS, returned to play while still fighting and even started some playoff games; Max Pacioretty, takes the nasty hit is out a season with fx vertabrae, returns and is an elite player. The list goes on and on with some really great stories of overcoming the odds. Just some weird choices.

That's the thing. There are very deserving guys who could make this a real tough decision. Now, if anyone but Letang gets it, it's stupid. Beyond stupid.

And if the purpose is to get these stories out there, they really missed the boat here.

 

[pixburgher66]

That's the thing. There are very deserving guys who could make this a real tough decision. Now, if anyone but Letang gets it, it's stupid. Beyond stupid.

And if the purpose is to get these stories out there, they really missed the boat here.

I'd be really disappointed if they're simply using this as a marketing tool. I mean, most people who follow hockey have heard both stories quite a bit.